Soap measuring and distributing attachment for washing machines



June 13, 1961 N. s. MCEWEN SOAP MEASURING AND DISTRIBUTING ATTACHMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 19, 1959 ATTORNEY 2,987,903 SOAP MEASURING AND DISTRIBUTING ATTACH- MENT FOR WASHING MACHINES Norman S. McEwen, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., assignor to Harold W. Brock, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Filed May 19, 1959, Ser. No. 814,250 1 Claim. (CI. 68-17) In that type of automatic clothes washing machine of the pump agitator type there is provided a central upstanding neck or tube from the energy ring into which the detergent, either flake, powder or liquid, is placed for automatic distribution throughout the wash water during the operation of the machine. It will be understood that this energy ring and the neck or tube forming a part thereof receives reciprocatory as well as movement axially within the machine.

In the use of a washing machine of this general character, there is danger of inserting excess quantities of the detergent which causes flooding by suds. In addition to hampering the operation of the machine, much loss of time and money results. Many machines of this general character are privately owned while others are of the coin meter type, sometimes used by persons inexperienced in the operation of such machines as well as lacking in knowledge of the proper quantity of detergent to be applied to the machine within the neck thereof.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide means of simple nature for application to the open neck of the pump agitator type of clothes washer which properly measures the quantity of detergent, whether granular or liquid, to be applied to the machine and thus avoiding the objections heretofore noted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for machines of the character generally stated which may be quickly and easily applied to or removed from the machine without special skill or knowledge and without requirement of the use of any tools whatever.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the energy ring and attached upstanding neck of the pump agitator portion of washing machine currently in use and illustrated as applied thereto the attachment embodying my invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the upper end of the neck or tube showing the attachment applied thereto, and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the measuring cup or attachment involving the invention,

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the energy ring of the pump agitator type of washing machine is represented generally at 5 and is affixed rigidly within the machine, centrally thereof and in upstanding position as shown. This energy ring tapers centrally in an upward direction to provide the upstanding agitator neck or tube indicated at 6, the latter being provided near its upper end with the usual spaced slots 7 through which water and detergent may freely pass when the machine is performing the washing cycle. The upper end of this tube is usually closed by a cap formed of suitable material and represented at 8 and whose sides frictionally fit with the walls of said tube end.

States Patent 0 The appliance of my invention comprises a shallow cup indicated at 9, formed either of light metal, plastic, rubber, or other suitable material. This cup has its side walls 10 provided with cut-away portions or slots 11 which slots preferably have their side walls in downward converging relationship and extending into the bottom of the cup as indicated at 12 in FIG. 3 of the drawings. In other words, these slots, gradually reducing in width in a downward direction in the side walls of the cup extend horizontally partway across the bottom of the cup 9. The upper rim of the cup is deflected outwardly as at 13 to provide lips as shown to rest upon the upper edges of the neck or tube 6, being engaged by cap 8 to hold the cup firmly in place.

The depth of the cup is carefully determined so that when filled approximately to the upper rim of the cup it will contain the proper quantity of detergent of flake or granular nature adequate to perform the average wash.

The bottom 9 of the cup has a depressed portion 14 in its center; this depression is of such diameter and depth as to contain, when evenly filled, a proper quantity of liquid detergent to carry out satisfactorily the average wash.

With the cup applied in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing and filled substantially to its top with either flake or granular detergent, the washing operation proceeds. The wash water has ready access to the interior of the tube 6 and to the interior of the cup 9 through the slots in both the bottom and side walls of the cup. The vertical as well as rotary movements of the tube evenly distributes the detergent throughout the wash, having access thereto through the slots 7. By the use of the cup constructed and assembled in the manner stated, it is obvious that the proper quantity of detergent material for the desired wash is obtained, and the cup by its construction is such that this detergent will be evenly distributed throughout the washing compartment. By providing a measuring cup as here described, it is obvious that even the most inexperienced user of the machine will be guided in the proper quantity of detergent to be applied to the machine without danger of suds flooding and at the same time proving its worth in detergent economy. By tapering the slots in the side of the cup, it is obvious that in the centrifugal motion of the tube all particles of soap which may be undissolved will be thrown toward the expanding openings and wash away, thus insuring a clean measuring cup at all times.

The depression 14 in the center of the cup bottom is of such depth and diameter as to contain the proper quantity of liquid soap or detergent for the average wash, and it is obvious that the centrifugal motion of the tube will cause this detergent to be evenly distributed throughout the wash by passage through the slots as will be understood.

The cup, as heretofore explained, may be of light metal, rubber, plastic or other synthetic materials, and the sides resiliently grip the interior surface of the tube 6 near the top thereof, being limited in its downward movement by the flanges 13 which rest upon the tube edges. In use, the cup 8 may be applied if desired or it may be left off.

I claim:

In combination with a washing machine having an upstanding cylindrical laterally perforated agitator tube open at its upper end subject to rotary as well as axial movement and having a closure cap to fit over and frictionally engage said tube end; the improvement which consists in a relatively shallow cup formed of flexible material having a downwardly converging side wall joining its bottom, the upper end of said cup having an outside diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter 5 of said agitator tube and frictionally fitted within said tube end, an outwardly directed flange at the open end of said cup to rest upon the open end of said agitator tube, and said flange and said cup wall sides having spaced apart slots whose side edges converge downwardly and extend 10 partway into said cup bottom.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Southwick Mar. 13, 1883 Crooker Oct. 1, 1912 Mitchell Mar. 3, 1925 McCormick Feb. 28, 1950 McCormick June 23, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Sept. 2, 1929 

